Cravo has recently completed construction of a retractable roof house for blueberries. The house is located on the trade show grounds of the Expo Agro Alimentaria trade show where blueberry trials are currently under way using a variety of conventional tunnel designs.
The goal of the house is to demonstrate how growers can change the production system to achieve a 2-3 year return on investment.
When using the retractable roof production system:
- Plant density can be increased by up to 50%
- Yield per plant in year one can be increased 25%-50%
- Total yield per m2 can be increased by approximately 100%
In addition to increases in total yield, the retractable roof can help:
- Extend the harvest season
- Increase fruit size, firmness, brix and shelf life
- Reduce chemical applications by over 50%
The production protocols in the demonstration house will be overseen by Luis Gaxiola from Cravo who is responsible for technical support for berry producers.
For more information:
Cravo